u/No_Nectarine_3071

I know how defeating this disease can be so I wanted to share my success story.

First flare around 8 years ago, 30yo. Had 1 bad flare/yr for a few years that I would just treat the symptoms with Colchicine and Indomethacin. Frequency of flares started to increase after a few years to more like once a quarter and I could no longer deal with hobbling around in pain for two weeks at a time.

About 1.5 years ago I started allopurinol and it has been such a game changer. I’ve had a few dull flares, but nothing to take me completely out of commission since I started, and nothing at all in the last 6 months. I tapered my dosage up thanks to advice from this sub, starting at 100mg and slowly increasing to 300. I also kept colchicine on hand, taking .3mg daily for the first month and then taking it any time I felt the slightest twinge for the next 6 months.

My unprofessional advice: Unless you’re going to the all you can eat and drink shrimp and beer buffet every day, lifestyle changes are unlikely to resolve your gout (you should still make them, though). Just start the allopurinol. I was resistant to starting a daily medication that I would have to take for presumably the rest of my life and I wish I had done it sooner. Probably something to do with confronting the reality of aging.

Good luck on your journey!

Looking for suggestions on making my IK a little more comfortable for longer trips. I have a Tomcat Tandem with the standard trapezoid shaped inflatable seats. Not particularly comfortable but fine for 90% of my use which is just day trips.

The last time I did a multi-day trip in this boat I threw out my back (no obvious strain, just woke up and could barely move) and had to pack my boat up and spend the last two days of the trip as a passenger on a big boat. I have a 5 day Gates of Lodore (first time!) trip this summer and don’t want it overshadowed by lower back pain.

I know an obvious answer is, “Get a bigger boat, old man!”, but that isn’t in the cards right now. Does anyone recommend the Cheetah Chair from Aire? Other suggestions to be more comfortable and/or stay loose?

Thanks!

I dived into a Hilton churn without doing enough research first and have some questions on maximizing my return. I plan to utilize free night credits in Fall/Winter which is a factor for the timing of earning them.

Signed up for Surpass in March. SUB earned.

Used NLL link for NF card in April. SUB earned.

Denied for Aspire due to 2/90 rule. I wasn't aware of this rule.

I can apply again for the Aspire in June, but I'd like get that 3rd credit sooner so I can go ahead and book something.

I have an offer to upgrade an older NF card to Aspire. Would it be a crazy idea to go ahead and do that and plan to use a NLL link for another Surpass in the future (and upgrade current surpass to Aspire when available)?

I travel enough for work to utilize all of the flight and hotel credits and pocket them.

Thanks!